Starting and Ending 2012 Well

When the girls started at their new school this year, hubby and I didn't know what to expect.

J had just turned 5 and was starting Prep.

Now she's officially an ex-preppie, on her way to Grade 1.

B had had four very good years at HCC and we weren't sure how she would go at a school whose academic standards are lower. Her Grade 3 teacher had cautioned us to ensure B continued to receive the stretching she needs so she does not get bored and disengaged.

On 12 Dec, the girls finished up at school with a final chapel service, during which awards were given out.

I didn't know anything about the awards - what awards were given out and the criteria - except the little a school mum had told me. Something about Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum.

The Junior School Coordinator took to the stage to explain what the awards were for: contribution to school life in a variety of areas. Apparently, the teachers have been monitoring the students since the start of the year and quietly awarding points for good behaviour, attendance, interpersonal relations, academic achievement etc. I remember J mentioning her teacher awarded 'rainbow sticks' for good behaviour and took away sticks if they did silly things. J had had her rainbow sticks taken away on several occasions for chatting.

Then Mr T announced the winners.

"We're going to start with the Preps, and the first Gold winner is ... Jordanne Tan."

He pronounced it as "Jor-Dane", but there was no mistaking who he meant, as Little Miss J was gently nudged forward by her teacher. She stepped on stage, beaming, shook hands with Mrs P and received her certificate.

When they finished reading the names of all the Gold winners up to Grade 4 and I hadn't heard B's name, I thought B had missed out. Pity.

Then they read out the Platinum winners for Grade 4, and I heard B's name.

Whoop Whoop! Pity I had no one to share my elation with. My friends were all sitting on the other side of the aisle. I was sitting with the mum of J's classmate, who turned and asked, "Is that your daughter?"

After that excitement came the next category: Achievement Awards. Apparently they only give this out to one student per year level, which I guess means they have to do something pretty outstanding. Rather like the Overall Academic Excellence Award given at HCC on Presentation Night.

The long and the short of it? Prep Achievement Award winner - J. Grade 4 Achievement Award winner - B.

Tall Poppy Syndrome or not, I am very proud of my girls. They have evidently worked hard at school and their teachers have acknowledged their effort and potential.

I hadn't expected much (ok, I had certain 'expectations' for B) this year since we were new to the school and the teachers hadn't said anything about how they were doing academically, apart from some very general comments in their mid-year reports. With B, I wasn't even involved as a classroom helper as I was more focussed on helping J settle into the school routine, so I was completely clueless about what went on in class.

With preps, it's hard to compare as they start school at different ages (youngest 5, oldest turning 7) and start reading, writing and spelling at different times in the year. J didn't start reading independently till about the middle of the year. In fact, I was getting a little concerned with her seeming lack of progress (compared to when B was in prep), when she suddenly took off with the spelling and reading. Almost every week, she was asking to be tested on her spelling words.

B didn't have compulsory extension work like she did at HCC - she said the extension work was given to all Grade 4s in their 3/4 composite class and was optional. She even said to me that she needed to be stretched in Math. (She does Kumon Math and is learning at a level nearly 2 years above grade level.)

At the Kumon breakup party this week, B received her Advanced Student medal. I asked if she had any regrets about stopping Kumon Math after two years. She says maybe she'll switch to Kumon English for 2013.

Hubby is not convinced Kumon is the way to go - too much repetition, no actual teaching from the supervisor or helpers, parents have to mark the worksheets and still pay $110 pm. And yet every time we go, it seems like there are more and more students from GNLC doing Kumon. Interesting.